Havana, Cuba 2018 16/18U SOFTBALL MULTI-CULTURAL & 2 nd COPA AMISTAD TOURNAMENT July 10-15, 2018 PRICE $2,500.00 (per person) ALL INCLUSIVE We will play: The National Cuban Olympic Team, The Jr. Olympic Team, University of Puerto Rico and other regional s Cuban teams. ONLY 12 FIRECRACKER PLAYERS WILL BE SELECTED
How to become a Firecrackers USA Team player Firecracker players interested in becoming part of the 2018-16/18u FC USA TEAM & be part of this ONCE IN A LIFE TIME EXPERIENCE must: Have a GPA grater than 3.0. Have a valid US Passport. Submit a 1-page essay explaining WHY you want to be part of the USA Firecrackers Team to play softball in CUBA. Send recruitment video link OR have your current FC head coach contact us, and submit detail information on the player. Example: What position(s) they play, graduation year, etc Be at least 14 years of age but not older than 18 years of age as of January 1, 2018 to be able to travel with the team alone or w/parent. Please send email ASAP to FirecrackersMC@gmail.com if interested. For more information or questions, feel free to call Firecrackers head coach, Manny Travieso at 323-793-0442.
ALL INCLUSIVE The $2,500 includes round trip tickets from Los Angeles to Havana, Cuba. All documents and Visa fees, 5 nights hotel accommodations, 3 daily meals, medical insurance and all transportation fees including to and from softball venues and cultural activities in the itinerary. Player will also get 2 game jerseys and 2 T-shirts with their names on them, to commemorate the event. The 12 players chosen will be asked (not mandatory) to bring an extra used glove, a bat and cleats to leave there for the young Cuban players. If needed, payment plans are available as follows: FIRST DEPOSIT $500.00 due no later than April 15, 2018 SECOND DEPOSIT $1000.00 due no later than May 15, 2018 FINAL PAYMENT $1000.00 due no later than June 15, 2018 This team will fill up quickly. After the 12 players are chosen, we will no longer accept any more players. This is exclusive for Firecracker players ONLY. Pitchers and Catchers for both FC & Cuban Team FC Cultural Day in Old Havana, Cuba
INFORMATION (Picture: 1 st ever game in Havana, Cuba. Firecrackers USA Team I vs Cuban National Team 7/24/2017) The 2018 Softball Multicultural and 2 nd Copa Amistad Tournament will take place from July 10th through the 15 th 2018, in the City of Havana, Cuba. The team will play against the National Cuban Team, the Jr Olympic team Cuban team, University of Puerto Rico (D2) and other teams from different Cuban provinces. At the commencement of the tournament, the Cuban Softball Federation will greet you as they welcome you to compete in Havana, Cuba. During the tournament, we will offer workouts led by the Cuban Olympic coaching staff, which includes Luisa Medina, head coach of the Cuban National Team. Coach Medina is the first Cuban player inducted into the Softball Hall of Fame. This is not a tourist event, you will engage in a full time competitive and cultural exchange with top Cuban athletes. It is an experience of a lifetime that will enhance your Softball knowledge and culture. You will learn how Softball is played in Cuba and you will also have the opportunity to engage and interact with the Cuban players and Cuban People. The players and parents interested can contact FC head coach, Manny Travieso to ask any questions. Face Time/Skype video call will also be available as of March 19 th, 2018 with coach Manny Travieso for Q & A. The finalized team roster will be revealed in the FC website and all social media outlets. The team will meet one day prior to the trip, on Monday Evening July 9 th 2018, to receive uniforms, take pictures for the media and to get in a team practice prior to leaving to Cuba the following day. This will not be a mandatory practice but is highly recommended.
SCHEDULE Day 1 July 10, 2018 (Tuesday) Departure from Los Angeles (LAX) to Havana (Time tbd) Arrival at La Havana Jose Marti International Airport Hotel Check In Welcome Dinner at the Hotel Coaches & Parents Meeting Day 2 July 11, 2018 (Wednesday) Breakfast at the Hotel Softball Games 1 (Firecrackers USA Team vs Cuban National Team) Softball Games 2 (Firecrackers USA Team vs University Of Puerto Rico D2) Lunch City Tour of Old Havana Dinner at a Private Paladar* Day 3 July 12, 2018 (Thursday) Breakfast at the Hotel Softball Games 3 (Firecrackers USA Team vs Cuban National Team MIXED) Softball Games 4 (Firecrackers USA Team vs Jr Cuban National Team) Lunch City Tour of Modern Havana Dinner at a Private Paladar* TBA Day 4 July 13, 2018 (Friday) Breakfast at the Hotel All Day Cultural trip to VARADERO BEACH Lunch at VARADERO BEACH Dinner at Hotel Day 5 July 14, 2018 (Saturday) Breakfast at the hotel Softball Games 5 Championship Game (Teams TBD) Lunch Farewell Dinner & Classic Car Ride Day 6 July 15, 2018 (Sunday) Breakfast at the hotel Hotel Check Out Departure from Jose Marti International Airport Return to Los Angeles (Time tbd) *Paladar (plural: paladares) is a term that in Spanish translates literally to "Palatal" and used with that meaning in the Spanish speaking world, however in Cuba is used exclusively to refer to restaurants run by self-employers. Mostly family-run businesses, paladares are fundamentally directed to serve as a counterpart to state-run restaurants for tourists seeking a more vivid interaction with Cuban reality, and looking for homemade Cuban food.
PLEASE SEND ALL SUBMITIONS, QUESTIONS DIRECTLY TO COACH MANNY TRAVIESO FirecrackersMC@gmail.com Or call/text him directly at 323-793-0442 All travelers will be given an OFAC form to complete before their departure travel date. This is in accordance with all US Laws and Regulations. (U.S. Department of Treasury. Office of Foreign Assets Control. OFAC) (Picture: Final game in Havana, Cuba. Firecrackers USA Team I vs Cuban National Team 7/26/2017) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY REGULATIONS APPLY. For more information please visit www.treasury.gov/ofac This trip and all its components will be handled by